On February 27th, 2009, ATA filed comments on the TSA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that seeks to amend the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program and the Private Charter Standard Security Program (PCSSP), and to apply new security requirements to all aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds. When the NPRM was released, airlines/ATA expressed concern that the measures are redundant and that the proposed rule is unclear regarding carrier applicability; carriers are already governed under an approved TSA security program.
ATA comments note that a “one size fits all” methodology governing commercial and private air travel cannot be applied seamlessly throughout the industry, and recommend combining applicable PCSSP areas into a separate section of the Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program (AOSSP) rather than having its member carriers have certain parts of operations governed in a very small percentage by a new LASP regulation. ATA believes the elimination of the AOSSP and incorporation into one security program under LASP is not a viable option. ATA also has serious concerns with independent auditors/Third-Party Watch List Providers having access to sensitive security areas within already governed commercial aviation.